When City Council gets used to ceding final control of the contract negotiations to the mayor’s office, it increases the risk of taxpayers and service recipients getting a bad deal.
Policy
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
What’s in Chicago’s Newest Union Contracts? Lower Wage Increases, Higher Healthcare Costs
The agreements with the Coalition of Unionized Public Employees (COUPE) are the first in a new generation of collective bargaining agreements for the City of Chicago.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Doubek: Who’s Assessing the Assessor? Voters Are, on Their Own
Government doesn’t hit any closer to where we live than this.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Shaw: Police Shootings in Suburban Chicago Show ‘Massive Failure of Government’
Several police shootings in suburban Cook County have led to lawsuits and settlements, but zero internal discipline. How could such reprehensible policing continue unabated and undisclosed for so long?
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Too Many School Districts In Illinois? What You Should Know About School Consolidation
With 852 separate districts, Illinois has the third most school districts in the nation, bested only by Texas and California, whose populations are more than double ours.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Doubek: Special Ed Students and Others Deserve Oversight Hearings
Chicago aldermen owe their constituents the transparency and accountability of oversight hearings on CPS special education problems.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Shaw: When Government ‘Pulls a Lucy’
Chicago City Council is infamous for contemplating a good government reform and then yanking out those key elements before a final vote.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
How Can You Be a More Engaged Citizen? Read, Participate, Use FOIA and Collaborate
Filing a FOIA request isn’t difficult; its simply has to be in writing.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Nine New Illinois Laws to Know in 2018
From expanding consumer protections to extending the powers of voters to consolidate local units of government, here is what you need to know in 2018.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Doubek: How Solid Local Journalism Delivered in Chicago and Illinois in 2017
New Department of Assets, Information and Services reduced spending growth by $1.8 million per year post-merger, exceeding $1 million savings target.